Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)

UPSC Full Form is Union Public Service Commission. On 7th August 2020, Pradeep Kumar Joshi has been appointed as the chairman of UPSC. He was earlier a member of the UPSC. He will remain in the UPSC office as the chairman till April 4, 2022. Aspirants preparing for the IAS Exam should thoroughly know about the commission as the latter is responsible to conduct the All-India Civil Services Examination. Questions on the composition of UPSC, Chairman of UPSC, Functions of UPSC can be asked in the preliminary exam. Read on to know the answers of all of these.

What is the Union Public Service Commission?

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is not an exam but it is a constitutional body which is authorized to conduct various exams in the country one among which is Civil Services Exam, while Indian Administrative Services (IAS) which is commonly known as IAS Exam is also not an exam and is one of the civil services post among the others like IPS, IFS and etc. to which candidates can get into through the Civil Services Exam.

The UPSC is a constitutional body. It is a central agency which is authorized to conduct various examinations in India and the list of exams is given below.

1. Civil Services Examination
2. Indian Forest Service Examination
3. Engineering Services Examination
4. Combined Defence Services Examination
5. National Defence Academy Examination
6. Naval Academy Examination
7. Combined Medical Services Examination
8. Special Class Railway Apprentice
9. Indian Economic Service/Indian Statistical Service Examination
10. Combined Geoscientist and Geologist Examination
11. Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandant) Examination

The commission’s approval is granted by the Constitution of India as mentioned in the articles 315 to 323 of Part XIV of the constitution titled as Services under the Union and the States for public service commission for the union and for each state.

Read about Public Services of India in detail in the linked article.

Composition of Union Public Service Commission

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) consists of a chairman and ten members. The terms and conditions of service of the chairman and members of the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.

The composition of the Union Public Service Commission as per 2020 is given below:

Note: Arvind Saxena was the UPSC Chairman before Pradeep Kumar Joshi. His tenure ended on 7th August 2020. 

Eligibility and Tenure of Chairman & Members

The President of India appoints the Chairman and other members of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Generally, the members of the commission are the civil servants with at least 10 years of experience either in Central or State service.

The Commission is examined by a Secretariat led by a Secretary with two Additional Secretaries, a number of Joint Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries and other assistant staff.

Each member holds office for a term of 6 years or until he attains the age of 65 years.

Criteria for Removal of Members (Union Public Service Commission)

The members can submit their resignation to the President of India at any time. Any member of the commission would be removed from the office by the President of India on the ground of misbehaviour (if and only if an inquiry of such misbehaviour is made and defended by the Supreme Court of India) or if any member is charged with bankrupt or engaged in any paid employment outside the duties of his office or if the President opines the member is unfit to continue in office by reason of illness of mind or body.

The member can be removed from the office by the President of India on the grounds as well as procedure is given in Article 317 in the Constitution of India.

The Union Public Services Commission is among one of the few institutions which execute both autonomy and freedom along with the country’s higher judiciary and Election Commission.

Recruitment rules for Union Public Service Commission

According to the provision mentioned in Article 320 of the Constitution of India, the provisions of Union Public Service Commission (Exemption from Consultation) Regulations 1958, Recruitment Rules of all Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ posts in various Ministries/Departments of Government of India are necessary to be framed in consultation with the Commission. The Consultation with the Commission is also mandatory for structuring or revising Recruitment Rules for certain categories of posts under the Delhi Municipal Corporation, The New Delhi Municipal Coil, the Employees State Insurance Corporation, and the Employees Provide. Every year on all-India basis various examinations are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and this includes Civil Services, Engineering, Medical and Forest Service, etc.

Functions of Union Public Service Commission

The major functions of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) under Article Section 320 of the Constitution of India are:

• To conduct various examinations for the appointment to the services of the Union
• Direct Recruitment by selection through interviews
• Appointing Department officers on promotion, deputation and through absorption
• Constituting and amending the Recruitment Rules for various services and posts under the Government.
• Disciplinary cases relating to different Civil Services
• About any matter related to the UPSC, they can directly recommend the Government by the President of Indian

Read to know more about the powers and functions of UPSC, check the linked article.

Reports

Every year, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) submits a report of its work to the President of India. The President presents the report of the commission before the parliament along with a memo with regard to the cases where the advice of the commission was not accepted and the reasons for non-acceptance.

Every year, the Union Public Service Commission conducts various exams and Civil Services Examination is one among them. The Civil Services Examination is conducted in three stages viz.

1. Preliminary
2. Main and
3. Personality Test/Interview

Facts about the UPSC:- Download PDF Here

Candidates can read about other important offices in India, from the links mentioned below:

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